Prefabricated enclosure



'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 THOMAS N. Dr-gPew 9; w. l

ATTORNEY MOE April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW 3, 77,

PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvrox.THOMAS N. DePgw BYQW (0- KM ATTO R N EY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEWPREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 INVENTOR. sN. DEPE w THOMA BY Q w. KM

ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW 3,177,530

PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR.

THOMAS N. DE PEW ATTORNEY T. N. DE PEW PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE April 13,1965 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

mmvron THOMAS N. DEPEW BYQW w- ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW3,177,530

PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.THOMAS N. DEPEW ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW PREFABRICATEDENCLOSURE '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 INVENTOR.

By THOMAS M. DEPEW ATTORN EY United States Patent Ofi ice 3,177,530Patented Apr. 13, 1965 3,177,530 PREFABRICATED EN CLOSURE Thomas N. DePew, Ladue, Mo., assignor to Arrowhead Products, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Arkansas Filed Dec. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 162,655 4 Claims.(Cl. 20-2) This invention relates in general to construction and, moreparticularly, to prefabricated space enclosures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a space enclosuredesigned primarily for readily converting open, interior space, such asfound in a warehouse or the like, into a closed compartment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spaceenclosure comprised of a plurality of prefabricated components adaptedfor ready integration in minimum time and with minimum labor into afully formed, operative unit.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a spaceenclosure wherein each of the components thereof is insulated to presentundesired heat transfer and thus adapting the enclosure for temperaturecontrol, such as especially for cooler usage.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a spaceenclosure wherein the components are adapted for facile, repeatedinterengagement into, and disengagement from, operative enclosureformation by means of the utilization of unique securing members.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aprefabricated space enclosure which is economical in construction; whichis designed by means of the character of its components to be of anypredetermined size; which when in disassembled condition requiresminimum storage space; which is durable, reliable, and efficient inusage; and which allows of a collapsible cooler construction as in largewarehouses where it is too costly to build a permanent refrigeratedcompartment in view of possible sporadic or infrequent usage.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structuresillustrated in the accompanying drawings (seven sheets) in which- IFIGURE'I is a front elevational view of a prefabricated enclosureconstructed in accordance with and ambodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal transverse section taken on the line 44 ofFIGURE 1, with stored material shown in phantom lines.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged detail on the portion encircled in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line11-11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line12-42 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 13 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1313of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the doortop bracket.

FIGURE 15 is a horizontal view taken on the line 15-1 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a vertical side view taken on the line 16- 16 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 17 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1717of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 18 is a vertical view taken on the line 18-48 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a multiple enclosure constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 20 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 2li--2i) of FIGURE 19.

FIGURE 21 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on theline 2121 of FIGURE 19.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustratethe preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generallydesignates an enclosure being comprised of prefabricated components andadapted for ready assembly upon a pre-existing support surface s, suchas, for example, upon a warehouse or factory floor for confining aportion of the available interior space into a closed compartment,especially adapted for temperature control. Thus, enclosure A mayprovide a temporary or permanent refrigerated storage space forpreservation of material which would normally deteriorate unlessmaintained in a cooled state, such as, for instance, beer. Wherefore,the present invention has unique application in the brewing industry.

Enclosure A incorporates a pair of opposed side walls 1, 1, a top wall2, a rear wall 3, and a front wall which latter is provided with, orconstituted of, a door or other closure, as indicated broadly at 55.Side walls 1, 1', top wall 2 and rear wall 3 are constructed of apreselected number of building components 4, 4, 5 and 6 respective- I,each of which is comprised of spaced apart outer and inner panels 7, 7",respectively, formed of suitable rigid material, such as, plywood, orthe like, and being interconnected on their inner confronting faces by acentral and a pair of side ribs 8, 9, 9, respectively. Said side ribs F,9' are spaced inwardly from the adjacent side edges of the associatedcomponent for defining the base of a side recess 10 for purposespresently appearing. The intervening space between panels 7, 7' isfilled with cores 11 of a suitable insulating material, such as, forexample, Syrofoam; said insulating cores 11 being secured to the opposedpanels 7, 7 as by adhesive means, thereby integrating components 4, 4',5, and 6 into a single unit.

Mounted on both faces of each panel 7, 7 of each component 4, 4, and 6are upper, lower and intermediate rail members '12, 13 and 14-,respectively, which extend transversely from side edge to side edge ofthe related component; said rails being aligned with the rails on theadjacent components and being formed preferably of about 3% x 4 lumber.Secured on each rail member 12, 13 and 14 of each component 4, 4, and 6,adjacent each end of said rail members, is a fastening plate 15, as ofmetal, suitably provided with a raised or embossed central portion 16having aligned horizontal and vertical openings 17, 18, respectively, toreceive therethrough fastener straps 19 for interconnecting the metalplates 15 on opposite sides of the joints developed between adjacentcomponents when in enclosure-forming relationship; there being aconventional type gripper 20 for uniting the cooperating straps 20. (SeeFIGURE 18.) It is, of course, recognized that the various dimensions ofcomponents 4, 4', 5 and 6 may be preselectedly varied. However, forpurposes of illustration only, side and rear wallcornponents-having awidth of 4 ft., a length of 12 ft., and a thickness of about 4 incheshave proven, in practice, quite effective. Top wall components 5 areunderstandably and desirably of greater length than the side and rearwall components so as to provide enclosure. A with a suitable width.However, the width and thickness of top wall components aresubstantially the same as those of side and rear wall components. Withan overall thickness of about 4 inches, panels 7, 7 are approximately toinch thick and insulating cows 11 are about 3 inches in cross-section, I

In the assembly of enclosure A, the actual'steps of which are more fullydescribed below, the related components ofeach wall aredisposed inside-by-side relation- I ship with the side recesses opening toward eachother to define, cooperatively, an enlarged enclosed vertical opening inthe region of the joint developed between ad.-

jacent building components for'fittedly receivinga socalled spline orsection of insulating material 21, fabricated, for example, as ofStyrofoam. Such spline '21 which fills the entire opening, abuts on itsend faces against the proximate ribs 9, 9 of the associated recesses 10.

'Building components 4, 4' and 6 are provided with a downwardlyopeningrecessZZ at their lower ends, the base of said recesses 22 beingconstituted of a transverse rib 23 (see FIGURE 10). Said recesses 22,being similar in character to recesses 10, are adapted for reception ofthe upper, reduced, tongue-forming portion 24 of a pref-v erably woodenbase plate'25 havinga lower portion 26 vof, desirably, the same width asthe: superimposed ,com-

ponent so that the lower end edges of panels 7, 7' thereof will abutupon the shoulders 27'formed by thewidth differential of said upper andlower base plate portions. Base plate 25 is disposedupon an air-tightgasket 28 laid upon support surface s. Said gasket 28 is of'like widthand extent as base plate'25 and is fabricated Fiberglas, Styrofoam, orthelike.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 11, itwill be see as of 1 inch side wallcomponents with the included corner posts 29 (see FIGURE 11) The innerpanels 7' of the adjacent rear wall end components and approximate sidewall components will overlap in their end portions for confining theinwardly presented surface of the corner posts core 32. The fastenerstraps 19 are utilized on both inner and outer surfaces of, the buildingcomponents as may best be seen in FIGURES Each building component ,5 forforming top wall 2 isprovidedon its normally undersurface, adjacent eachof its ends, with a traversely extending snubber strip 34 for abutting.against" the inner face of the inner upper rail members 12 of side'.'wall components v4, 4"(see FIGURE 9), while the rearwardmost component 5will also be provided with. a longitudinally extending snubber the samemanner. as the side and rear wall components strip 35 for abutting theinner face of the inner upper rail members of rear wall components 6(see FIGURE 17). The confronting recesses 10 along the sides of adjacenttop wall components 5 also receive splines 21, in

above described However, within the recess 10 of the I rearward end ofthe rearwardmost-top wall component .5 there is disposed a transverseend member 36 which comprises an inner relatively narrow elongatedsection "136. for snug vreceptionwithin said recess and an outer member137, formed as of 2 x 4, having a width substantially equivalent 'tothat of the top wall member 5, Said outer member 137 will thus restonitsunder surface on the upper end of rear wall 3. "As will be seen in FIG,-

URE 17, said end member 36 terminates on its outer surface'spacedly fromthe outer face of rear wall 3 and.

there is; provided an obliquely presented filler or trim member 37 forobscuring the joint developed therebetween and providing a bearingsurface for strap member 19 i which interconnect top wall 2 and rearwall 3.

.On its normally upper surface, each top wall component5 is providedadjacent each side edge in its opposite end portions andintermediatelytherebetween with a fastener plate, 15, as well as on itsnormallyunder surface in its centralportions adjacent its side edges(FIGURE- 9); Top wallcomponents 5 are interconnected by straps 19extending between thecentrally located fastener plates that there is'provided between rear w'all 3 and each side.

wall 1, 1' a corner. post member 29 which, understandably, in one caseis of what one; might term right hand designand in the other case left.hand design. Corner post members 29. each comprise a'pair of rigid panel1 members 30, 31 fixed in right angle or L shaped arrangement to presentan outer angle, and being flush or surfacewise aligned,--with the outerpanels 7 of the adjoining side 7 and rear-walls. Applied, as byadhesives, tothe. innerfaces of panels 30, 31 of each corner post. 29 isan angle-shaped core or section 32 of insulating material, such asStyrofoam, which core is unconfined on its inwardly presented surfacesand projects at its ends beyond the side margins of said panels, 30, 31to constitute a tongue or tenon, as at 33, for extension within therecesses 10 of the adjacent components 4, 4' and 6. By the use'of cornerpost members 29., a firm corner is developed which 15 thereon, both onthe under and the upper surfaces, and

said components are interengaged in their end portions to.

the upperv ends of the adjacent side wall and rear wall components 4,4and 6 by means of straps19 extending between fastener plates 15 at theends of said components,

Sand those located on the upper rail members 12 of the said rear andside wall components (see FIGURES 3, 12

and 18) ,As .best shown -in FIGURE 12 an obliquely. presented fillermember 37 extends between the upper end edge of the top wall components5 and the upper surface of the rail members 12 onthe outer facesof saidsiderand rear wall components 4, 4- and 6. Said filler members 37 thusin addition to dressing? the joint between said top wall and side andrear walls also provide a surface against 1 which straps 19 may betightlymaintained. Thus, the top wall;2' is maintainedin-firmlrelationship to the. side 1 and rear walls and it will be'seenin: FIGURE 12 that;

snubber strips 34 and 35 locate top wall components 5 in properrelationship to the side; and rear wall componentsfor proper supportthereon.

As stated above, the dimensions ofbuilding compo:

nents,4, 4' .and 5 and 6 may be of anypredetermined character, althoughlike dimensions for wall components.

4, 4 and '6 are preferable as such allows for speedof production,rapidity of assembly, and ready interchange, as there areno rights? orlefts. and hence especial pairing in installation is obivated. Asexemplary of the use of wall components of different; dimensions, abuilding component 6 is shown in FIGURE 4 which, although in allrespects identical to component 6, is of relatively re duced width (inthis instance being exactly /2 of said component 6) Thus, component .6is used to fill in such straps extending about rear wall 3 forcorrespondence to the overall width of enclosure A and thusaccommodating the particular length of top wall components 5. The rearand side walls of enclosure A may be increased by any desired incrementas may be required for the overall dimensions of the enclosure to beformed. However, if components of varying width are to be utilized inthe formation of side walls 1, 1' it is desirable that such be used inpairs so that each one of such pair will be in opposed relationship tothe other. The registration of such modified side wall components willbecome evident in the consideration of the assembly procedure ofenclosure A as will be described below.

For reception of a refrigerating or cooling unit, as indicated generallyat 38, which forms no part of the present invention, one of the rearwall components 6 is provided at its upper end portion with an opening39; there being a mounting bracket at 40 fixed in said opening 39 forsupport of cooling unit 38.

After a suitable site has been determined, as in a warehouse, theassembly, or erection, of the side, top, and rearward walls of enclosureA is accomplished in the following manner: base plate 25 together withunderlying gasket 28 in the preselected extent are laid out upon supportsurface s and then one rearward corner is developed by engaging uponbase plate 25 of a rearward Wall component 6, the adjacent side wallcomponent 4 or 4', as the case may be, and the intervening corner member29, with the said wall components 6 and 4 or 4' being secured togetherby straps 19 connecting fastener plates 15 on the adjacent side edges ofsaid components, which straps embrace the included corner member 29 asabove described. The rearward wall 3 is then completed by addingcomponents 6 one at a time, with a spline 21 being accepted within theopenings generated by the confronting recesses of adjacent components,and with straps 19 securing each component to those in abutmenttherewith; such straps 19 extending across the intervening joints, onboth sides of the adjacent components, and extending between fastenerplates at the upper, central, and lower points as hereinabove disclosed.After development of rearward wall 3, the other rearward corner isformed with the cooperating side wall component 4 or 4 which is thusopposed to the corresponding component in the originally former corner.The rearwardmost top wall component 5 is then disposed upon the upperend edges of rearward wall 3 and of the pair of opposed side wallcomponents 4 and 4', with suubber strips 34 and 35 of said top wallcomponent 5 being brought into abutment against the upper inner rails 12of rearward wall 3 and of the said side wall components 4, 4' and withstraps 19 being secured between said top wall components 5 and rearwardwall 3 and between same and side wall components 4, 4; with fillermembers 37 being previously placed.- Subsequently, enclosure A isconstructed in a forwardly advancing manner by the positioning of a pair5 of opposed side wall components 4 and 4 and the associated top wallcomponents 5, until the desired length of enclosureA has been obtained,whereby side walls and top wall 1, 1' and 2, respectively, will becompleted. It is recognized of course that splines 21 are insertedbetween the adjacent side wall components and top wall components andthe straps 19 are suitably interconnected for integrating the componentsinto a stable, fully rigid condition.

With the side, top, and rearward walls thus formed, there is mountedagainst the exposed side faces of base plate 25 and gasket 28, on bothsides thereof, and through out their extent, elongated insulating blocks41, as of Styrofoam, with the joints formed between same and supportsurface s being sealed, as by caulking, as at 42 to thereby enhance theair-tight character of enclosure A. (FIGURE 10.) Applied to the inwardlydirected face of lower rails 13 on side walls 1, 1 and rearward wall 3 6is a spacer bar 43, fabricated as of 2 x 4 lumber, or the like, tomaintain stored material, as indicated at B in spaced relation as to theenclosure walls.

Enclosure A, except for its now open forward end, is thus fullyconstructed and the extreme expedition with which such may beaccomplished is quite apparent when it is observed that the integratingor uniting means consist solely of metal straps 19 which are easily andreliably interengaged, and the use of which obviates the necessity offield afiixing of securing elements to the building components withattendant permanent damage thereto. Conversely, the rearward top andside walls can be readily dismantled or disassembled by the rapiddisengagement of straps 19.

The forward end of enclosure A, as indicated, is provided with a closureor door 55 which may be of any suitable type for ease of operation andadapted for tight scaling to preserve the refrigeration provided againstundue loss. Merely for purposes of illustration and not limitation, door55 is shown as being of the overhead character, being elevated foropening and thereby allowing maximum access to the enclosure interior.Said door 55 is comprised of upper and lower sections 44, 45,respectively, in normal abutment on their respective lower and upperedges (FIGURE 6) when in closed relation; there being cooperatingsealing members 46, 47 carried on said edges with a hinge 48 engagingsaid sections 44, on their inner surfaces for mutual related swingingwhen said door is lifted into open condition, as shown in phantom linesin FIGURE 2. Each section 44, 45 is formed of inner and outer panels 49,50 with an insulating core 51 therebetween. A sealing strip 45 is fixedin a lower end edge of door section 45.

Mounted at each lower outer end of door section 45 is an angle-shapedbottom plate on the forward face of which is carried a rod 61 for aroller 52 which projects laterally of door section 45 for receptionwithin a vertically presented track 53 (FIGURE 8) carried on anangle-plate 54 to secure to the forwardly presented face of the web of agenerally channel-shaped door jamb 56 fittedly secured upon the forwardside edge of the adjacent side wall components 4, 4; said jamb 56 beingfabricated of wood and incorporating filler strips 57.

Secured to the side face of each bottom plate 60 is a I cable t'm'mble58 to which is engaged one end of a cable 59 which progresses upwardlytherefrom, laterally outwardly of door sections 44, 45 for trainingabout a sheave 52 disposed on an extension of angle plate 54, upwardlyof top wall 5; said cable 59 being directed rearwardly therefrom forconnection to a counter-balancing spring 63 of torsion type carried upona spring drum 64 mounted for rotation on anchor bracket 65, 65' securedon top wall 2. At each upper outer corner of upper door section 44 thereis secured a top bracket 66 which projects beyond the upper end edge ofsaid door section 44 and on the outer side face of its projectingportion mounts a pivot arm 67 rockably secured at its upper end to apintle bracket 68 fixed on angle plate 54. vAlong its upper rearward endportion, door section 44 mounts a gasket 69 for sealing the jointbetween same and top wall 2 when door 55 is closed. Said door 55 mayalso be provided with a locking system, as being indicated broadly at70*, such as, of the conventional, continuous rope-type, and whichsystem may incorporate readily accessible latching levers 71.

The operation of door 55 should be easily understood, for after thelocking system 70 has been placed in open condition, door 55 may beelevated by an outward pulling action as applied through door pulls 73with door sections 44, 45 folded upon each other into the position shownin phantom lines in FIGURE 2, with roller 52 traveling upwardly alongtrack 53 and cable 59 being wound about its respective sheaves throughpulling of the counter-balancing springs 63. Door 55 may be as easilyreturned to closed condition by a downward pulling action with roller52-traveling downwardly along track '53:

as door sections 44, 45 move into surface-aligned rela-' tionship.With-reference nowxbeing 'made to FIGURE 55also carries a sealingmember. along .the'sides of its: rearward face, as at 74. Thus, withdoor 55in closed condition the. forward end of enclosure .A is snuglyand reliably sealed against undesired heat transfer.

' As shown in FIGURE.3,.perforated plumbers. straps. 75..mayfbexattached to each anchor. bracket. 65 and extended rearwardlyalong top wall ,2 for, securement at their rearward-ends to rearwardwall 3 as bylag screws (not shown), or the like.

In view of the foregoing, it is to be seen that enclosure A is mostuniquely constructed, being comprised of simply constructed componentswhich are readily adapted for interconnections so as to facilitate therapid and facile erection of enclosure A and the equally expeditiousdis-v Enclosure A thus'provides what mantlingof the same. 7 might beconsidered a collapsible refrigerator, for it maybe speedily raised in asuitable interior area for accommodating materials which must bepreserved in a cooled atmosphere andwhich will allow the return of suchspace to its erstwhile usage after the purpose for which enclosure A hasbeen raised has terminated. It is thus apparent that enclosure A hasspecial applicability in the comestible field, and has especial usage inthe field of brewing for maintaining beer in a cooled state pendingshipment.

Furthermore, enclosure Aois designed for easy reception, and withdrawal,of stored materials, as by fork lift tru'cksor like mobile means whichmay freely'pass through the front opening upon operation ofdoor 55.

When dismantled, the componentsofenclosure be stored in minimum space.

Referring now to FIGURE 19, there is illustrated therein a multipleenclosure C which comprises, in effect a pair of juxtaposed enclosuresA, but;having a single, common center wall, indicated at 101', therebeing a pair of parallel side walls 101; and a pair of rearward walls103 and a pair of top walls'102, both of said latter being insurfacealignedrelationship. The said walls101, 101, 102 and 103 are constructedin'the manner as the above described walls 1,1, 2 and'3, respectively,and 'theyinclude' inner and outer panels 7, 7 and insulating cores 11'.The corner developedbetween center wall 101' and each of jacentcomponents of rearwardwalls 103. Secured, as

by adhesives, to the'central inner face of said panel 127, is the outerend edge of a partition 128. perpendicularly disposed to .said panel.127 and thus being in general T-formation therewith. To the oppositeside faces of partition 128 there are secured angle-shaped cores 1'30,130'.of'in-' sulating material, such .as Styrofoam; said cores 130, 130'v incorporating relatively narrow legs 131 and relatively wide legs.132; the latter projecting into, and. being re- A may passages 13 3 forprojection between the joifit formed by" panel 127 and theadjacentpanel..7' of the components 7 of therearwardzwalls 103 The. outer:projecting portions of said straps 19, at the same level drheight, aremutually crossed' for engagement .to cooperatingstraps19 anchored tofastener 'plates Jon the outwardly. directed faces 'of theadjacentcomponents of rearward walls .103 thereby compactly andeifectively tying center wall 101, to bothofthe rearward 'vt alls103,-.with the uniquely designed corner member 129 serving as theclose-fitting, integrating element. The rearward wall portion ofenclosure C'is further reinforced. by the provision. of transverse ribs134:

' secured'spacedly upon the outer or rearward face of panel:

. 127 of corner member 129 for overlying relationship with respect tothe joints between said panel 127 and-the ad jacent components ofrearward walls 103 (FIGURE 20). Asllnay be; seen in FIGURE 21, centerwall101' is designed to receive, on its upper endedgethe' abutting innerend edges of two aligned top wall components, as shown at 105, 105';with the related snubberblocks 34 serving to position said components'inproper supported, condition; and with t-he same being interconnected bystraps 19 extending between associated fastener plates 15.

FIGURES 19 20 and 21' serve merelyito illustrate the extreme versatilityof the present invention. Enclosure A may be considered merely as amodule from which a multiplicity ofintegrated enclosures might beformed;-

. each having its own closure (not shown) so-that opera:

a multiple enclosures requires nothing more thanthe expectedmodification pf the jambs for engagement upon common center wall 101'toaccommodate the various door members. j 1 V It should be understoodthat changes and modifications in the forination,construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts oftheprefabricated enclosure may be..made and substitutedfor these hereinshownand described without departing from the nature and principleofmyinvention. i

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: a V l, A space enclosure comprising a rearward wall,a top wall, and a pair of side walls, eachof said walls being comprisedof aplurality of juxtaposed prefabricated components, each componentcomprising a pair of inner and outer; spaced apart rigidpanel's,1an'insulating-core fixed between the panels of each component,each side wall and rearward wall component having .a downwardly openingrecess at its lower end, a continuous base plate member supporting saidside andrearward wall. components and havingan upperreduced. portionsnugly receivedwithin the recess at the lower ends of each'side-andrearward wall component, saidside and rearward componentsfurther hav ng side edge recesses formed on said componentsfordeyeloping openings within the joints created byadjacent" components,a spline-formingmember of insulating material contoured oomplementarilyto,-and-re eeived withceived within, the edgerecesses10of the'adjacentcome ponents of the rearward walls 103.. The narrow legs 131 theproximate. component of center wall 101.

Extending through. cores 130, 130' are a plurality of vertically spaced,narrow passages-133 progressing trans verselyof rearward walls103 andbeing aligned with the related side edge of panel127. Said passages 133areof cores 130,.130' together with theincluded portion of partition 128are accepted within the end edge recess of adapted for extension.thereth'rough of straps 19 in the manner, and for the purposes, to benow described. 1 Said straps 19 engaging fastener plates 15 located atin each,-,.such opening, a plurality of-first flexible,-adjustablestrap-forming membersmounted attheirends on the innenandouter.panelsof adjacent components and extending transverselytherebetween detachably uniting each ,cbinpanent toadjacefitcomponentsin planarwise aligned wall-forming relationship, aplurality of secondfiexible, adjustable straprformingmember s forvengaging the, side andrearward walls to the top .wall, japair of cornerposts disposed between saidfrearward wall and each of said side walls,means interengaging saidicorner posts to the rear ward wall and theadjacent sidewall for effecting firr'n corner development, a pluralityof third flex ible, adjustable strap-forming members; for interenga'gingsaid side walls and said rearward wall andextending about the relate dcorner posts,- a pair of first snubber strips mounted on the undersurface of said top wall, trans'versely' of each side wall, for abutmentthereagainst, and a second snubber strip mounted on the under surface ofsaid top wall in axially normal relationship to said first snubberstrips for abutment against said rearward wall.

2. A space enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bysaid second strap-forming members being mounted at their lower ends uponthe upper portions of the inner and outer panels of the components ofthe side and rearward walls and being secured at their upper ends uponthe top Wall whereby straps extend across the joint developed betweenthe top wall and the side and rearward wall, and closure means mountedon the front end of said end closure.

3. A space enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bya plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending rail membersmounted on the inner and oute panels of each component of the rearwardand side walls, said rail members of adjacent components being axiallyaligned and extending the full width of each component for abutment atits ends against the confronting ends of the rails of adjacentcomponents, mounting plates secured on each rail member adjacent itsends, and said first strap-forming members extending between themounting plates of adjacent, end-abutting rail members.

4. A space enclosure as defined in claim 3 and further characterized bysaid first and second strap-forming members being engaged to themounting plates upon the uppermost rail member on each component, andbeing in substantially axial normal relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,911 4/78Wolfley 202 2,054,323 9/36 Holbrook 20101 X 2,302,047 11/42 Olsen 20-42,323,297 7/ 43 Collins 204 X 2,702,412 2/55 Asch 20-4 X 2,896,808 7/59Papy 21766 3,003,810 10/61 Kloote et al 204 X 3,016,999 1/62 Glasoe 20-4X FOREIGN PATENTS 545,801 1922 France.

1,165,670 1958 France.

7,806 1914 Great Britain.

245,035 1925 Great Britain.

730,021 1955 Great Britain.

770,342 1957 Great Britain.

25 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

1. A SPACE ENCLOSURE COMPRISING A REARWARD WALL, A TOP WALL, AND A PAIROF SIDE WALLS, EACH OF SAID WALLS BEING COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OFJUXTAPOSED PREFABRICATED COMPONENTS, EACH COMPONENT COMPRISING A PAIR OFINNER AND OUTER SPACED-APART RIGID PANELS, AN INSULATING CORE FIXEDBETWEEN THE PANELS OF EACH COMPONENT, EACH SIDE WALL AND REARWARD WALLCOMPONENT HAVING A DOWNWARDLY OPENING RECESS AT ITS LOWER END, ACONTINUOUS BASE PLATE MEMBER SUPPORTING SAID SIDE AND REARWARD WALLCOMPONENTS AND HAVING AN UPPER REDUCED PORTION SNUGLY RECEIVED WITHINTHE RECESS AT THE LOWER ENDS OF EACH SIDE AND REARWARD WALL COMPONENT,SAID SIDE AND REARWARD COMPONENTS FURTHER HAVING SIDE EDGE RECESSESFORMED ON SAID COMPONENTS FOR DEVELOPING OPENINGS WITHIN THE JOINTSCREATED BY ADJACENT COMPONETS, A SPLINE-FORMING MEMBER OF INSULATINGMATERIAL CONTOURED COMPLEMENTARILY TO, AND RECEIVED WITHIN EACH, SUCHOPENING, A PLURALITY OF FIRST FLEXIBLE, ADJUSTABLE STRAP-FORMING MEMBERSMOUNTED AT THEIR ENDS ON THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS OF ADJACENTCOMPONENTS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREBETWEEN DETACHABLY UNITINGEACH COMPONENT TO ADJACENT COMPONENTS IN PLANARWISE ALIGNED WALL-FORMINGRELATIONSHIP, A PLURALITY OF SECOND FLEXIBLE ADJUSTABLE STRAP-FORMINGMEMBERS FOR ENGAGING THE SIDE AND REARWARD WALLS TO THE TOP WALL, A PAIROF CORNER POST DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID REARWARD WALL AND EACH OF SAID SIDEWALLS, MEANS INTERENGAGING SAID CONER POSTS TO THE REARWARD WALL AND THEADJACENT SIDE WALL FOR EFFECTING FIRM CORNER DEVELOPMENT, A PLURALITY OFTHIRD FLEXIBLE, ADJUSTABLE STRAP-FORMING MEMBERS FOR INTERENGAGING SAIDSIDE WALLS AND SAID REARWARD WALL AND EXTENDING ABOUT THE RELATED CORNERPOSTS, A PAIR OF FIRST SNUBBER STRIPS MOUNTED ON THE UNDER SURFACE OFSAID TOP WALL, TRANSVERSELY OF EACH SIDE WALL, FOR ABUTMENTTHEREAGAINST, AND A SECOND SNUBBER STRIP MOUNTED ON THE UNDER SURFACE OFSAID TOP WALL IN AXIALLY NORMAL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST SNUBBERSTRIPS FOR ABUTMENT AGAINST SAID REARWARD WALL.